Everyone loves to attend a potluck. It’s a great time to bond with friends or family over good food. If you’ve consistently been going to one, you may already be looking for more ideas of what to serve. Surely, you wouldn’t want to bring the same thing over and over again, particularly when these potlucks happen multiple times across the year.
Before the fun of gathering and food-sharing, you’ll still first have to go through the food preparation process. Depending on how busy you may be, perhaps you could be on the hunt for ideas that are easier to whip up or that don’t take up so much time and effort.
Are you looking for easy, quick, and tasty side dishes to bring for your next potluck? This article has got you covered with ideas!
1. Pea Salad
Peas don’t just have to be an after-thought or a minimum ingredient when you’re cooking. It can be a side dish or a salad that everyone will also learn to love! While many may not be a big fan of peas, an old-fashioned yet mixed with a sweet dressing, cheddar cheese, red onions, and bacon can make your pea salad recipe more appealing and delicious. Not to mention that most pea salads can be easily made in less than fifteen minutes.
2. Crispy Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Roasted potatoes are one of the failproof potato side dishes that can go with almost anything! You can use any kind of potatoes, slice it up, and then mix it with olive or canola oil, sea salt, ground black pepper, minced garlic, and chopped parsley. If you love garlic, you can always go extra on the garlic, adding more flavor.
Put in in a preheated 400 degrees F oven, or approximately 200 degrees C, for 45 to 55 minutes, until they’re crispy and golden.
3. Mac n Cheese
Mac n Cheese is a well-loved dish for both kids and adults, so this is guaranteed to please every attendee. Plus, there are many variations of Mac n Cheese that you can do, giving you variety. There’s Mac n Cheese with just the cheese sauce, white cheese, and cream sauce. There’s also a version where you add some red pasta sauce.
4. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio With Parsley
Spaghetti in red pasta sauce isn’t the only form of spaghetti pasta you can bring to a potluck. You can also whip up your own Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Parsley or whatever herbs and spices you wish to put in.
You can make this recipe just with your pantry staples: spaghetti pasta, onions, garlic, olive oil, red pepper, anchovies, and peeled shrimps or some scallops.
5. Pasta Salad
To make a pasta salad, you can use fusilli or penne pasta that’s boiled and mixed with greens and other ingredients to suit your preference–Spinach, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, onions, sliced cucumber.
The good thing about it is you can slice the ingredients or prepare them the night before, giving you a stress-free preparation. On the day of the party itself, all you’ll need to do is to mix them up on your party platter or a pretty bowl, then you’re good to go.
6. Spicy Sriracha Dip
Kids will love those potato crisps you bring or sliced-up vegetables with the usual hummus, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, or garlic ranch dip. But to level your dips up for the adults, you may also want to try out something new: spicy Sriracha.
You can serve this with your sliced-up vegetable, crisps, and crackers, bringing more variety to the table.
7. Macaroni Salad
If you’re going to a barbeque potluck, macaroni salad is a well-loved choice. It goes as the perfect side dish to meat and it also seamlessly compliments any grilled dish.
You can mix anything with your macaroni salad, but a favorite among many will always be shredded chicken. With that, you’re adding more protein and meat to your side dish to make it even filling. Additionally, you can mix in sliced carrots, cheese, and raisins, among others.
8. Bacon Guacamole
If it’s the season for guacamole or avocados during your potluck party, take advantage of that by bringing in guacamole as your side dish. After all, this isn’t something that comes in regularly.
Don’t just bring guacamole as it is. Prepare it as a salad, mixed with crispy fried bacon bits, garlic, salt, pepper, and then drizzle it with olive oil. Garnish it with chopped parsley for added points in the presentation.
9. Potato Salad
Another must-have side dish for potlucks that go with almost anything is the classic, favorite potato salad. Its creamy and zesty flavor goes well with chicken roast, steak, or meatballs that another guest might bring.
There are so many potato salad recipes you can get inspired by online, so even if you’re bringing this traditional favorite, you may be adding something new to its ingredients.
10. Broccoli Salad
Potluck food doesn’t always have to be unhealthy, and there are always so many other ways to add some ‘greens’ to your dish. This is why another well-loved choice is broccoli.
While it may not look tasty, broccoli is actually very delicious. Plus, it’s crunchy so it gives you that same feeling you may have when eating chips, only that this is much healthier.
Depending on how you make your broccoli salad, it can be that perfect marriage of tangy and creamy flavors.
11. Brownies
If you have to bring a dessert, brownies are one of the simplest to make. Plus, if you don’t feel confident enough to start making one from scratch, there are many brownie mixes you can go for. Some are even gluten and sugar-free. There are dark chocolate brownies or the usual milk chocolate. Depending on your box mix, some may have ready-made fudge as well.
Conclusion
With this list of options, you can finally remove the guesswork out of the equation and be more excited about your potluck party! You shouldn’t be stressed about it since potlucks are meant for the party-goers to have fun. When it’s so casual and you only have to bring one dish, you don’t need to obsess over what’s good to bring and what isn’t. Your contribution is sure to be appreciated, especially when you bring one or two of the options above.